Good evening and welcome to the November 10th, 2025 meeting of the Greensboro City Council.

We are in the committee process members.

And let the record reflect that all members are in attendance, except for Mayor Vaughan and Councilmember Pender and Dr.

Wells, who are on Zoom.

We will begin the meeting with a moment of silence.

Please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance.

Councilmember Hoffman, would you give us the honor?

And to the Republic for which it stands one minute.

Under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Thank you.

Please silence any and all electronic devices.

And if you must make or receive a phone call, kindly do so from outside the chambers.

The City of Greensboro strongly encourage residents' input at our meetings.

It is the goal of the city council that the Katie Dorset Dorset Council Chamber is a welcoming and safe space for all community members.

In order to speak at tonight's meeting, you must sign up to speak by 6 p.m.

And if you signed up to speak online, you must let the courier know that you are in attendance.

Speakers may address specific consent or business items with three minutes allocated for their remarks.

Speakers cannot relinquish their time to others, and the speaker's order is determined by the presiding officer depending on the number of speakers.

Council may adjust the time allotted for each person.

Any handouts must be given to the courier for distribution.

All speakers are expected to adhere to the rules of decorum.

Any inappropriate or disruptive behavior will result in immediate removal from the meeting.

Removal will result in a three-month suspension from in-person participation.

A second violation following the initial suspension will result in a six-month suspension.

A third violation or any instance involving physical altercations will lead to a 12-month suspension and may also result in criminal charges.

Any council member may withdraw an item from the consent agenda due either to a conflict of interest or for the purpose of voting no.

Items removed from the consent agenda for discussion will be placed on the next business meeting agenda.

Our meeting includes closed captioning.

Depending on the length of tonight's meeting, we may take a short recess around 7:30 p.m.

Uh step council has been requested to postpone item one I.

It is an ordinance amending chapter 11, Article 2, Division 3, sections 1148, 11 through 48 of the Greensboro Code of Ordinances with respect to the powers and duties of the minimum housing standards commission to the November 18th City Council meeting.

Moved by Mr.

Holston, seconded by Tammy Therm.

All in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

And do we have any of our council people on Zoom?

Jamila, your vote?

Aye.

Aye, as anyone is Dr.

Wells on or Mayor Vaughn.

Okay.

Thank you.

Um this is the time for ceremonial and presentational items.

Item E1 resolution renaming the Barbara Park Event Center to the Yvonne J.

Johnson Event Center.

Um Councilmember Hoffman, would you like to start us off, please?

Oh, yes, Mayor.

Happy to resolution in support of the naming of Barbara Park Event Center after Yvonne J.

Johnson.

Whereas on December 4th, 2024, the City of Greensboro and the state of North Carolina lost a beloved community leader and activist with the passing of the former Honorable Mayor Pro Tim Yvonne J.

Johnson.

Whereas the native of Greensboro, Yvonne J.

Johnson dedicated approximately 30 years to the Greensboro City Council, serving as council member, mayor, and mayor pro tem, and making history as the city's first African American mayor.

Whereas among her numeral accomplishments, she founded the Greensboro Drifters Incorporated, a local chapter of a nationwide sisterhood of strength, service, and sisterly love committed to providing scholarships that open doors of opportunity for youth, extending care and support to seniors, and advancing voter education and registration to empower our communities.

One step further, where she served as a workshop facilitator focusing on topics of diversity and racism, and was promoted to executive director, a position she held for nearly 40 years, and was a founding participant of the Summit House, a residential alternative to prison program for mothers convicted of nonviolent crimes and their minor children.

Whereas the North Carolina League of Municipalities recognized the life and service of Yvonne J.

Johnson through an official resolution adopted in May 2025, honoring her decades of dedication to the City of Greensboro and her lasting impact on municipal government and civic engagement.

Whereas Yvonne J.

Johnson, a dedicated public servant, leading with courage, passion, and conviction, known as the mother of Greensboro, served as a role model as one of the city's staunchest champions working with countless groups, individuals, and organizations.

And now, therefore, be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Greensboro, that the Greensboro City Council wishes to support the naming of the Barbara Park Event Center as the Yvonne J.

Johnson Event Center to honor her life and her commitment to our community.

That a plaque bearing the name Yvonne J.

Johnson Events Center be placed in a prominent location within the event center.

That a copy of this resolution shall be delivered to the family of the late Yvonne J.

Johnson as a symbol of the gratitude of the people of Greensboro for her devoted support and contributions to our community.

Any motion?

Second.

All right, that is improperly motioned and seconded.

All in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

That passes unanimously.

The sign is actually going to go on.

Oops.

Going to go on the building.

So I I would think Yvonne would appreciate a countdown, and if someone can help to unveil, this is it.

Or at least I don't know if I can, Lisa.

Yeah, hold that for me.

So we have a rep a smaller version for the family to take home.

And then we will unveil this with the Yvonne Johnson.

Five, four, three, two, one.

Oops.

Is it gonna come off?

There we go.

There we go.

And we also have one here for the family.

But we're not done.

We're not done.

You know, Yvonne.

We are not done.

So uh let someone take this.

Lisa, would you like to hold this?

So we can step back here, and this is a replica of the bronze plaque that is going to go inside the building.

And somebody's gonna help me.

There we go.

All right.

Uh you know, Yvonne.

Five, four, three, two, one.

There we go.

Vernon.

Lisa.

So basically it's what we read in the resolution, and now I'd like to turn it over to the family if they would like to say a few remarks, because we all love your mom.

We all do.

So thank you.

I would just like to thank the community and the council for loving my mother so much that you bestow dishonor upon her.

Um Barbara Park is a community facility.

It reaches out to the entire community, and that's what she was all about.

So I know she's smiling right now, knowing that her name is going to go over on this event center.

And she's really smiling about that bus that drives around the city.

So I want to thank all the council members.

Thank you so much for this honor.

And I would also like to um echo what Bernard said, but also I really do appreciate each and every one of those on the council who took the time to find the appropriate thing to name for my mom because she knows she did not want a street.

Um really before she passed away about three weeks before, she told me she said, I don't want a street, I don't want anybody driving on me.

And so um, well, y'all know her personality.

So this is very befitting because she was very proud of um the honoring within that event center of women, and I believe that this speaks volumes about her body of work.

So thank you so much.

Thank you all so much.

And for I mean, this family is just amazing, and I want to acknowledge there's so many people in the room who are here in order to hear all of this.

And I know her best friend and many drifters are here as well.

So, you know, it's just it's just we we just wanted to do something that would live on and show her legacy.

So thank you all so much for sharing her with us.

For sharing her with we're gonna put this uh close to here too, so they can get some photos if you all if you would like.

Is that acceptable?

Okay.

I need some help moving in the easy, please.

Let me get this out.

There you go, there you go.

What should I have looked at?

All right, moving on to item E2, resolution recognizing the Carolina Cowboys Crown 2025 Professional Bull Riding Teams World Champions.

Mr.

Holston.

Thank you, Madam Miraple Jim.

You know, that that that was a very powerful presentation just earlier with Yvonne Johnson.

It's it's it's really tough to even come after that.

But um we are going to talk about the resolution recognizing the Carolina Cowboys, the 2025 professional bull rider world champions.

Whereas the Carolina Cowboys, based in Greensboro, North Carolina, proudly represent the Carolinas as a founding team of the professional bull riders PBR camping world team series.

Whereas since its launch in 2022, the PBR team series has brought new energy and excitement to professional bull riding, expanding the sport's reach and popularity.

Whereas the Carolina Cowboys, under the leadership of head coach and PBR co-founder Jerome Davis, General Manager, and 2018 Day 2500 champion Austin Diller, and co-owner and NASCAR Hall of Famer, Richard Childress, have demonstrated exceptional dedication, teamwork, and community spirit, both in and out of the arena.

Whereas in 2025, the Carolina Cowboys captured the PBR World Championship, showcasing their dominance in the sport through consistent performance, strategic leadership, and unwavering determination of their riders and support staff.

Whereas the team's annual homestand Cowboy Days, held at the first Verizon Coliseum, has become one of the most anticipated events of the PBR team series, drawing thousands of fans, generating national attention, and bringing a positive economic and cultural impact to the city of Greensboro.

Whereas the Carolina Cowboys championship season symbolizes not only their excellence in professional bull riding, but also their commitment to representing the values of hard work, courage, and community pride that define the Carolinas.

Whereas their success further enhances Greensboro's reputation as a premier destination for major sporting events and entertainment, highlighting the city's role in advancing the growth and visibility of professional bull riding in the Southeast, and now therefore be resolved by the City Council of the City of Greensboro that the Greensboro City Council does hereby recognize and congratulate the Carolina Cowboys for their remarkable 2025 PBR World Championship victory and their outstanding contributions to the sport of professional bull riding and that a copy of this resolution shall be presented to the Carolina Cowboys in appreciation of their achievements and in celebration of their championship legs legacy adopted this tenth day of November 2025.

Congratulations, Carolina Cowboys.

I need a motion.

I need a motion.

So move.

Move by Mr.

Holson, seconded by Mrs.

Stern.

All in favor, please say aye.

All right, that passes unanimously.

We uh bust with the Carolina Cowboys, we just want to uh thank you guys for just I can remember Miss Johnson uh wearing her cowboy hat and welcome us with open arms.

You guys are awesome, and we just love Greensboro, and we were so close last year to bring the buckle back to Greensboro, we were second place, and uh this year the guys just put it all on the line, and we we was able to come home as the 2025 world champions, and the the buckle may still have a little champagne on it when we celebrate a little bit, but we just thank you guys.

Thanks, we love Greensboro, and uh I hope uh Carolina Bays will be a lot bigger this year.

Thanks, you guys.

Absolutely.

This is Jerome Davis and his wife Tiffany Davis and also the general manager uh John Sumate.

And we're really excited about these these uh these Carolina Cowboys because they have brought a national championship.

A lot of times we're so accustomed, you know, to the Dodgers and the big parade or uh the Eagles.

Well, this is this is a part of Greensboro, they are national champions, and we're gonna celebrate with them throughout the year.

And that big belt buckle is going to help us.

This this buckle, much like you you've seen with the Stanley Cup in hockey, that teams have the opportunity, or players have the opportunity to take it around to different venues.

Well, because this is an annual uh national championship, we'll be taking the buckle around the city.

You may see it at the Cargills game, you may see it at the Christmas parade, the tree lighting ceremony.

We're gonna take this buckle everywhere.

Well, our cowboys who mostly live in Texas and Wyoming and Montana and everywhere else, they're actually Brazil are flying back to North Carolina to be in the Christmas parade and at the tree lighting.

That's how much Greensboro, y'all's support means to our guys.

We really appreciate.

And Miss Johnson's family, we do want to recognize because she was a big supporter when we first started bringing this thing.

So thank thank you.

We we appreciate her too.

But thank all of Greensboro for your support that you always give us.

Absolutely.

Absolutely.

Thank you so very much.

Congratulations, cowboy.

All right, moving on to item E3, resolution honoring the life and legacy of Murphy Anderson.

I will be reading this resolution.

I do want to recognize uh former deputy city manager Chris Wilson is in the audience.

And uh I know that several people are in the audience.

Um Murphy Anderson was an artist who uh, well, you're gonna hear about it in the resolution, so we'll save it for that.

So, resolution honoring the life and legacy of Murphy Anderson.

Whereas, since the passing of Mr.

Murphy Anderson on October 22nd, 2015 in Somerset, New Jersey, the City of Greensboro continues to honor his legacy and his lasting impact on art, culture, and his hometown.

Whereas Murphy C.

Anderson Jr., born on July 9th, 1926 in Asheville, North Carolina, and raised in Greensboro, North Carolina, developed a passion for art at an early age and went on to become one of the most influential, respected illustrators and inkers in the history of American comic books.

Whereas after graduating from high school in 1943, Anderson briefly attended the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, before courageously following his artistic ambitions to New York City.

He began his career in the comic book industry as a staff artist for Fiction House and earned his first public published credit in Wings Comics in 1944.

Whereas from 1944 to 1945, Mr.

Anderson honorably served his country in the United States Navy while continuing to contribute artwork to comic books and science fiction publications.

Whereas through the late 1940s and 50s, Mr.

Anderson built a prolific career illustrating works such as Buck Rogers.

He contributed to notable publishers, including Z DC Comics, Ziff Davis, St.

John Publications, Pines Comics, and Atlas Comics.

Whereas Mr.

Murphy Anderson became renowned for his work with DC comics, he helped shape iconic characters and series, including Hawkman, Captain Comet, The Spectre, Zatana, and Adam Strange, and he co-created the beloved Atomic Nights feature, which he later described as his favorite project.

Whereas during the silver and bronze age of comics, Mr.

Anderson's elegant artistic style collaborated with penciler Kurt Swan, and together they defined the visual identity of Superman and Action Comics.

And they then earned the duo the affectionate name Swanderson among fans.

Whereas Mr.

Anderson's innovations extended beyond illustration, and in the 1960s, he proposed a new comic page size of 10 by 15 inches, which is now widely adopted as the industry standard.

In 1973, he founded Murphy Anderson Visual Concepts, providing professional lettering and color separations for comic publications.

Whereas, in addition to commercial work, he contributed for many years to P.

S.

Magazine, the U.S.

Army's Preventing Maintenance Publication, making complex military information accessible through visual story telling.

Whereas over a career spanning more than five decades, Mr.

Murphy Anderson became widely recognized as one of the premier inkers and illustrators of his time, and he left an indelible legacy in the world of comics, fantasy art, and American popular culture.

Whereas as a native son of Greensboro, Mr.

Murphy Anderson brought honor to his hometown through his artistic excellence, service to his country, and lasting influence on generations of artists and storytellers.

And now therefore be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Greensboro that the City Council honors the life and artistic contributions of the late Murphy Anderson and expresses its deep appreciation for the pride he brought to his community, that in recognition of his Mr.

Murphy Anderson, a plaque will be installed at the Greensboro Cultural Arts Center to commemorate his legacy, adopted this the 10th day of November 2025, and I would like to move that motion.

And that is seconded by Mr.

Zach McBainy.

All in favor, please say aye.

And I would like for my CPA, who is Paul Stutz, who is a comic book uh person and uh superhero uh fan to come down and accept this resolution.

He and I have worked on this for about three years.

So I would like for him to come down and accept the resolution if he'd like to say anything, that would be great as well.

And and Chris Wilson, you're welcome to really because I know you guys want to get out of here.

Really, because I know you guys want to get out of here and not take much time.

But I appreciate the approval.

Murphy.

He was very legendary.

You go to any comic book convention, the most valuable comics are the ones that have the best covers.

His comics are the most valuable.

His covers, Hawkman, Justice League, Superman.

They're outstanding.

He was the first artist to do muscle definition, like Cerratus, the abs, quads, stuff like that on the comic book pages.

So and when I found out I didn't know he was from Greensboro.

I just grew up, you know, collecting comments in the 60s.

When I found out he was in Greensboro, I became a huge fan.

Thank you very much for this approval.

Now before we move on with the agenda, I know all of us would like to say something at the end of our meeting about our beloved Yvonne Johnson, and I'll open up the floor to council members if they would like to say anything at this moment.

Um just wanted to say that um she certainly was very legendary.

Um very uh woman in our community who meant a lot to so many people, and it's a great I'm glad we're able to honor her in this way.

Um when we go into Barbara Park, we'll see her name, but not only when we see our name, we'll remember the type of woman that she was, and she still continues to be a model for many citizens, even today, even after her passing away.

Um she left such a momentous impact in this community, and so she will be missed.

Thank you.

And you it isn't a very befitting uh naming of the facility at Barbara Park.

Uh the Yvonne Johnson that that I know that I knew was someone who always brought people together, someone who always found a way to connect one way or another, even if you disagree, she found a way to connect.

Saw it here in this chamber.

Folks would come in upset and angry, and uh Yvonne would look at him and say, baby, and give them some words of wisdom, and although they came in um unhappy, uh they would leave with a smile on their face, or you still maybe disagreeing, but it was something that she had this innate ability.

She did the very same thing with us, closed session, uh, she might be the last person to speak, but everybody listened.

And again, she brought the folks together, and it's just appropriate that the naming of the Barbara Park facility, a park where people come together to have a good time or to cook out or to go play tennis or whatever it may be.

They're coming together, and Yvonne Johnson will continue to do that with the naming of the Barbara Park facility.

Thank you, Madam April Jim.

You're welcome, Mr.

Bethaney.

Uh I wish I could actually tell some of the stories that um I really want to tell.

Yvonne was one of the funniest human beings that had the biggest heart in the world.

And I I mean I can remember when she was mayor, and uh she asked me to support something that she wanted me to support, and I'm like, Yvonne, I got that, that's no big deal.

I like that.

She said, but never mind, I can't tell you.

Um, I mean, you know, in an extent being at the celebration of life last year, and the speeches that were given by her grandkids.

Um were some of the most amazing speeches I've ever seen in such a uh emotional state.

And it I think it says the quality of person that Yvonne was as a human, as a grandmother, as a mother.

Um, and I don't think there's anything better you can say than what the kids and the family said uh on that day.

And so um I'm just my friend, uh the city lost uh an amazing person, but knowing the quality of her children and her grandchildren, the city's gonna be all right.

You know, gosh, so many things that you could say about Yvonne.

She she was serious about so many things, but she she she didn't take herself seriously.

She was just um, you know, she was just uh uh a person whom who connected with people uh just um immediately.

And um, you know, we could say so many things about Avon.

She affected so many lives and made a huge difference in the city, and uh we are always better for having people like Yvonne Johnson who walked among us for a long time.

So thank you very much.

All right, Mrs.

Thurne.

You didn't warn us about this part.

I'm full of surprises.

Um, Yvonne was one of the first people that really welcomed me to council, and she was also one of the first to tell me the first time, don't worry, baby.

We got you.

Um, I remember one of the first times that I took comments from the floor personally, and her response to me and her support of me was um something I'll never forget, and we could disagree, and we could talk about things and we could challenge each other.

Um but Yvonne never stopped being a mentor and a friend and a confidant and somebody that I always knew I could go to as a count as a fellow council member, and as just a person.

Um, and I've heard that from other council members, and I've heard it from members of the community.

Um she was a special, special woman, she's greatly missed.

Um I think I will keep the lessons she taught me with me forever.

So, Miss Pender, did you want to say anything?

I know she's on Zoom, and she's having trouble getting on screen, so I'm not sure.

I'm here.

Can you hear me?

Right, yes.

Yes, um, I too would concur with many of the sentiments um that were spoken, but just this is just an honor to be able to dedicate the Barbara Park Event Center in her honor because again, her legacy will continue to live on, and I had an opportunity to cross paths with her several times, and I just thankful that we have this opportunity to be able to do this, and also thankful for being able to step in and hopefully give her honor in this role that I've been able to step in, and so grateful for this opportunity that we were able to continue to allow her legacy to move on with this center.

Um thank you.

Thank you, and I'll go last.

Um, you know, we've all had those special times with Yvonne.

I'll uh we've got a lot of stories, don't we, Zach?

Having been with her not only when I was elected to council, but many years prior, you get to know Yvonne, and she's just one of those special people, her family's special, everyone's special.

Um, she's so excited about grandkids and great grandkids and waiting for them to come along the way.

But but one little cute story, I think was, you know, one time we rarely disagreed, but when we did, we we kind of disagreed about something, and and she and I were on the opposite sides of a vote, and I'll never forget she took me in the elevator while we were going down to our cars, and she said, I'll love you tomorrow, but I just want you to go home and pray about that.

And it was it was just she was just that special where you know she would love you no matter what, and she would guide you and mentor you, and and like I said, those times were so rare.

Uh she she just had that kind of heart that that you wanted to um, you know, you you wanted to be with her, you wanted to be around her, you wanted some of Yvonne Johnson to rub off on you.

That's that's the way I felt the whole way along.

She just was an amazing woman, and you know, this is a very small way we can honor her legacy, so I know she's happy.

She's happy.

So thank you all for sharing her with us.

Um let's see, moving on to uh, let's see, okay, it is time now.

Oh, we've got one more.

I'm sorry.

Two more.

Yes, we've got the proclamation record, thank you, of November as Youth Hope Month, and I do have the honor of reading that.

This is a proclamation, whereas Youth Hope Month is a national observance dedicated to increasing awareness of runaway homeless and at-risk youth, and the critical resources available to help them find safety, stubborn stability, and hope.

And whereas each year, thousands of young people in our country experience homelessness, abuse, neglect, or crisis situations that put their health, safety, and futures at risk.

And whereas Youth Focus, a Greensboro-based nonprofit organization, provides housing counseling and support to young people in crisis and helps them achieve safety, stability, and independence.

And whereas through collaboration with community partners, Youth Focus and the City of Greensboro have been able to directly connect youth to life-saving services, including reuniting victims of human trafficking and exploitation with their families.

And whereas during Youth Hope Month, communities across the nation are encouraged to take action by illuminating landmarks in green, sharing information about youth safety programs, and reaffirming their commitment to protecting and empowering young people.

And now the mayor has signed this.

I, Nancy Vaughn, Mayor of the City of Greensboro to hereby proclaim November 2025 as Youth Hope Month in the City of Greensboro and encourage all residents to support the efforts of Youth Focus and other organizations working to ensure that every young person in our community has access to safety, compassion, and opportunity.

Now, this is not a resolution, this is a proclamation.

So if there's anyone from Youth Focus who could come down and receive this, yes.

A few words.

Yes.

Just want to thank the city for their support for our e-focus programs and for being a partner with the National Safe Place Program, the big yellow sign on fire stations and other city buildings, and we're proud to do this work in support.

Um thanks for Andrea.

She's one of our board members and her support too.

So thank you guys so much.

I wanted to get a picture of the keys.

Oh, picture?

Okay.

All right, so our last item on the E on our resolutions, item E5, resolution honoring the 125th anniversary of Greensboro purchasing and establishing the city's water system from Greensboro Water Resources.

Mrs.

Hightower.

Thank you.

Resolution honoring the 125th anniversary of Greensboro purposing and establishing the city's water system from Greensboro Water Resources.

Whereas on August 1, 1900, the Board of Alderman for the City of Greensboro voted to purchase the waterworks that serve the city from Greensboro Water Resources for 87,500.

Whereas this momentous decision was reported in the Greensboro Telegram on August 13, 1900.

The paper regarded the matter as a splendid trade for the city of Greensboro.

Whereas in the fall of 1888, the city observed the completion of an extensive system of waterworks of the combined standpark for water storage, standing 69 feet tall with a capacity of 100,000 gallons located in the vicinity of the railway depots near the intersection of Southtown and Faver Street.

Whereas at that time, the city had about three miles of main pike, 50 public and three private trihydrants, and an ample supply of water furnished for the manhole uses of the community.

Whereas today, 125 years later, the Greensboro Water Resource Department and its 430 plus full-time employees maintains over 1,500 miles of waterline, 13,541 hydrants, over 11,000 water meters, 11 water storage tanks, and 13 water booster stations that serve over 300,000 residents.

Whereas water resources is guided by a strategic plan and the efforts of exceptionally talented staff to serve the community by providing high quality utility services and by demonstrating exceptional customer service and resource stewardship today and henceforth.

And that therefore be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Greensboro that the City Council wishes to express his sincere appreciation and gratitude to former and current legislative and executive city government members and former and current city staff members of Greensboro's Water Resource Department for 125 years of dedicated service and to the community for his support and trust in this essential and vital public water system that a copy of this resolution shall be delivered to the director of water resources to be shared with the staff and the community as a symbol of gratitude and thanks for their trust and investment in the city of Greensboro.

Adopted this the 10th day of November 2025.

And Mr.

Borges will come fluid.

Did you want to move the item, Mrs.

High County?

Oh, yes.

So move the item.

Seconded by Mr.

Holston.

All in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

And that passes unanimously.

Thank you, Madam Mayor Pro Temp, and members of council.

I have just a real short presentation, and then I do have an item that I'd like to share with each one of you, as well as the family of uh Yvonne Johnson.

So as we can get it here.

As as you read in the resolution, uh 125 years, and that's a pretty good price, 87,500 compared to what we we pay now for water and sewer.

Uh and as you saw too, the three miles of uh main 50 are 50 public and three private fire hydrants and ample of supply for the city center itself.

The stand pipe is pretty significant, and I'll get to that in just a minute, but it's the first water storage tank in the city of Greensboro, and there is a picture of it you see right there of the standpipe that was built in around 1887 and completed in 1888.

And as you had mentioned, it was located what was called Fayetteville Street, but now it's called Martin Luther King Jr.

Street, and it's east of South Elm Street, which you can see right there is uh where it was over 125 years ago.

And if you look at uh to date, what are the some of the major accomplishments certainly from 2011?

PTRWA is a great example, people I tried Regional Water Authority in the investment that this council and previous councils made, the TZ Osborne wastewater treatment plant doing the upgrades, the nutrient upgrades to meet uh Jordan Lake uh requirements, Mitchell and Townsend Water Treatment Plant upgrades, including Lake Townsend Dam and the PFAS, the Forever Chemical Investigation, and that was certainly one of the items that was very important to Yvonne Johnson was the quality of our water, of course, and uh getting removing these forever chemicals, stormwater conveyance, flood mitigation, stream restoration, the rant Green Greensboro Randolph Mega sites, the uh advanced metering infrastructure, which now we have smart meters for all of our customers so they can get near real-time data for all of their uh for the water that they use, the water sewer extension policy, which allows us to really focus on regionalization, which was a certainly an important uh aspect or driver for this and other councils, our strategic plan, uh, more than 3,000 miles of water and sewer lines and 53 lift stations.

And I I do want to just take a second and acknowledge it's a team effort.

It's certainly I am very thankful, of course, for council and city manager's office for the leadership and support, but I'm extremely thankful to my my team.

And if when I call my team members, if you could please stand to be recognized, I would appreciate it.

Uh Assistant Director Christine Williams, assistant director Virginia Spillman, uh Business Division Manager Amy Walker couldn't be here, but customer service manager Mark Chester, and soon-to-be customer service manager Melvina Warnsley, uh Engineering Division Manager Janice Stewart, operations division manager Patrick Smith, Stormwater Division Manager David Flieger, Water Supply Division Manager Scott Jewel, and Water Reclamation Division Manager Elijah Williams.

And Water Reclamation Division Manager Elijah Williams.

Thank you for your service.

And the highlight of this is a little token of appreciation that I want to extend to the council members.

Each of you, there is a box behind you.

There's also this is for the family of Yvonne Johnson.

If I could have someone from Yvonne Johnson's family come up, please.

This was created by a dear friend who is a very skilled potter in Sea Grove, North Carolina.

And it's a replica of the first standpipe for the city of Greensboro.

And it's on the bottom of it, it states that it's 125 year public utility, and it's signed by him.

Matthew Kelly is the potter.

So I'd like to give this to the family of this.

Thank you very much, Council.

Thank you.

Thank you.

And before we move on to speakers from the floor, I just wanted to mention that Mayor Vaughn is watching.

Her daughter had some surgery today, and she's okay, but uh she needed to be with her daughter, so she sends her well wishes to the Johnson family and everyone else in the room.

So just wanted to give an update there.

Okay, I just wanted to thank Mr.

Boris before sure.

I know he's he's stepping away.

I wanted to thank him uh and his team.

Um they are very conscientious working individuals in that department.

And I know some things have been challenging lately, but they really do care about um water quality in this community and that everyone is safe.

Um, and so when I tell you that he works day and night, he really does.

No matter when you call, he will call you back.

And he has sent this department up so that they also know the importance of serving this community.

And I will tell you that it has been my pleasure to know Mr.

Borges and work with him and all his team members as well.

But I really want to thank him.

I don't do water, I'm not an engineer, but he can speak it and he lives it as well.

And you can certainly tell that by their attitudes and their behavior in that department.

And I think we can't thank them enough for really what they have done for the city.

So thank you, Mr.

You are correct.

Mike, I don't know what you did, but that doesn't happen very often.

And also I want to say that you you help explain things, and you and your staff both help explain things so those of us who are not engineers, so we can understand it all.

So thank you.

Thank you.

All right, moving on to public comment period.

Uh now is the time for speakers from the floor on non-agenda items.

And this is an opportunity to hear from anyone wishing to speak.

And generally, this is a time of listening for counsel.

The subject will be noted that you bring up, and if it requires action or request, the city clerk or city manager will note as such and provide steps for any required response or after action.

And please leave your contact details with the city clerk to facilitate communication.

Our first speaker, Mr.

Curtis Airston.

Is he in the room?

Mr.

Curtis Harrison.

And then after that, I would like uh if you can line up against the wall over on this side with the glass, uh, Philip Marsh, Luther Falls, and I'm sorry if I mispronounced it, Nave Hodge.

If they are in the room, they can go to the opposite side of the room, please.

All right, Mr.

Harrison.

Oh, good afternoon, everybody.

I'm mine uh I'm a Johnson.

Actually, I'm Mrs.

My cousin.

Oh as well.

Uh God is good.

Um I'm here to talk about homelessness in Atlanta in Greensboro, North Carolina.

Um still an issue uh of homelessness.

I'm walking past males and females that's mentally disturbed, uh, living underneath our bridge is where Sewell is what's right over here on Washington Street.

I'm pretty sure there's some people lining up out here right now, feeding the homeless people.

I know there's money funded for uh allocating for homeless emergency home situations.

Last year, uh these emergency warm shelters uh were not ran professionally uh in a few ways.

You had it wasn't it wasn't clean.

You know, it was unitary, and and then you had a lot of uh people that were I don't think was too close in packed together in one place.

So let me say that.

And and also um the issue of uh fair housing and these at least run-down uh thrumls, or have we called it, you know, because it's if you have a place with with filled with roaches and the landlord still still wants to rent, I think that's uh uh unprofessional, or for make for better words.

And then let me say this.

Anytime you engage in politics, there's always gonna be some conflict, you know.

Uh, and I'm a I'm a prophet of God as well.

You know, so uh at the same time I'm talking about um fair fair housing, homelessness, and our local jobs are racial tension on jobs.

Those type of issues that we don't we don't want to talk about.

We don't we don't want to face the real issues, but we're gonna have to face the real issues.

Um I think racial tension is real thick in Greensboro, North Carolina, uh, and other places too, but I'm here.

So I'm gonna speak on the way I'm here.

Um but we don't we don't want to face that, but we're facing that.

You know, um uh and I don't understand how everybody could be so cool and so cool and c and and and nice and and collective, and we got uh well Summer Street is a mess over there, you know.

Uh Oak Hotel is a mess over there, and and then we got people lined up out here that's that's that's homeless, and we say that we're we're doing great in Greensboro.

I don't see Greensboro doing doing great as a great city.

I I don't I don't see that.

Then we got the tiny houses and then and then but what then we throw all these homeless people over here and say, well, y'all gonna get the food how you get it.

Then Trump wants to take food stamps.

So well that you know the government, you know, I ain't gonna say Trump, the government.

But yet we're doing great.

I I don't see us doing great.

So change is good.

You know, I congratulate to all the new city council and new mayor, congratulations to all of you.

God bless.

Have a good day.

Thank you.

And if you if you would make sure that the the clerk over there has your information so someone can reach out.

Thank you, Mr.

Harrison.

All right, Mr.

March.

Good evening.

Umgratulations to everyone that was re-elected and my sympathies with those who weren't.

Um I want to uh just briefly come before you and make you aware uh the Washington Street Bridge was closed.

Um and due to that closure, uh we've re-entered the space that we were in last year.

Um and so I have a document that has been given to you by the clerk as well as entered into um the official record, and I plan to follow staff uh this week with regards to that letter.

Um, but I just wanted to make you aware and hope that um the new council members that are coming on as well as those who have been here before and went through what we went through last year, um, worked together with us on Washington Street to make sure that the issues that need to be addressed are kept in the forefront as we look for additional solutions to um the Washington Street issue.

So thank you very much.

Thank you.

All right, Mr.

Falls.

Good evening, Madam Mel Po Tim and uh members of the Greensboro City Council, Luther Falls Jr., Secretary of Marketing, Director Watchford Network Incorporated and the Financial Network Insurance Group.

And I too would like to congratulate uh the widows in the recent election, but I also want to thank you all for the service that you have provided for the city, and um especially for my councilwoman, Councilwoman Hightower.

I want to thank her so much on half of the citizens of District One in particular for her outstanding service that she has rendered to us, and we have worked very closely together on many, many issues, and she's always been receptive and accessible and able to provide most of the time what uh what we may need or defer who we who may need to be referred to.

And I have to say something about my queen.

I called her effectually the honorable Von Johnson, and when I would call her, I would say, hello, my queen, and she really really seemed to like that because she was everybody's queen, all of our queen.

And um I want to thank my colleague uh Bill Flashball for making sure that I was able to be here for the commemoration of the of the park, the center at the park, which is right down the street from my father's house where I now reside.

And it's just a wonderful thing to be able to see that that happened because you never want to honors or awards beyond all five of them.

But we have shown a great tribute to her and the family.

And we just want to wish um all the new people coming on well.

Good luck.

Mr.

Holston there, he knows how I feel about him.

We're gonna be working with the entire council as they go forward.

Anything that I can never do.

Oh, you've heard me say that before.

It's about the city of Greensboro.

We love the city of Greensboro.

We're all one.

We're all one is one Greensboro.

And uh thank you again, and y'all have a good evening.

Thank you, Mr.

Falls.

Miss Hodge, and I'm so sorry I didn't pronounce your first name correctly.

Um, good evening, council members.

My name is Naveya Hodge, and I'm a student at North Carolina AT.

I may not be a permanent resident of Greensboro, but I walk your streets, study on your campuses, and share in your community.

The chat ends here affects us all.

Greensboro is standing in a moment of crisis, not just a crisis of safety, but a crisis of humanity.

Too many people no longer feel safe in the city they call home.

Too many young people walk with fear instead of with freedom.

On October 6, 2025, USCG police were involved in a violent encounter with UNG student Alyssa Rhea and her partner Quentin Thomas, but begin as a calm um instant turned into a chaos.

Alicia ended up injured, handcuffed, and terrified on her own campus, the very place meant to protect her.

That image should hunt every one of us because no students should ever have to wonder if calling for help will end with harm.

And this is not the first time.

Another arrest by Greensboro police has spread across the city, showing us again that the promise of safety does not feel the same for everyone.

Some of us see a patch and feel relief, others see a badge embrace for survival.

That is not justice, that is spirit designs as order.

We cannot build a safe city on silence.

We cannot preach unity while turning away from the pain, and we cannot tell our youth to believe in a system that refuses to believe in them.

I'm calling for real accountability and real reform, training that teaches officers to de-escalate, not dominate, transparency that tells the truth, not the virgin that protects power, and oversight that includes the people who live in the reality of these streets, not just those who patrolled them.

Because public safety without public trust is a delusion.

So tonight I'm asking Greensboro to choose courage over comfort, justice over tradition, and truth over denial.

Let this be a moment we stop managing pain and start demanding change.

Let this be a moment we say that safety should never depend on your skin color, your zip code, or your student ID.

And let this be a moment that transforms outrage into action.

I believe in the city and I believe in its people.

And I believe that when we come together, when we refuse to be silent, we can make history right here starting tonight.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

Let's see.

Is Robert Lara May here?

No.

Uh, how about Angela Bissecker?

If she is here, well, she's coming down.

Then I have Marcus Chambers and Tara Cameron to line up.

I did want to recognize several of the North Carolina AT uh State University and ACP members.

I know Jet Jasmine Bastion right there.

So uh thank you all for attending.

We we do love hearing from our youth, so thank you very much.

Uh yes, go ahead.

Hi.

My name is Angela B.

Secker, and I'm a native of Greensboro.

I uh graduated from UNC Greensboro and raised my family here.

After becoming empty nesters, my husband and I moved downtown a couple of years ago.

Um, the following statements that I'm gonna present are based on information found in public records from the city.

With no public input, the city of Greensboro recently demolished the Bellmead Parkings Act.

The demolition took place after the original engineering firm Kimley Horn and other independent engineering firms stated that the debt could remain in use with some remediation.

The city never solicited any bids for the possible repairs.

The city sold the property for 1.85 million dollars.

The city's appraisal of the property's fair market value was 2.42 million.

That is a loss of 570,000 dollars.

The city never solicited any other bids for the sell of the property.

Greensboro taxpayers, including myself, paid for the 2.3 million dollar demolition of the debt.

Taxpayers also paid for the thousands of gallons of water that was used to reduce dust.

And taxpayers are paying, now paying for the sidewalk and road repairs related to the demolition area.

Three small businesses closed, and over 740 downtown workers, tanger visitors, and visitors to the downtown parks lost convenient parking.

I live next door to Bellmead, so this is all stuff I witnessed as well.

Workers must now walk all the way to the back of the Lincoln Deck located at Friendly and Green to access the Lincoln Deck's only elevator.

The Tanger Center has limited number of handicapped spaces, and disabled tanger visitors are now forced to walk much farther down to the Marriott deck.

My questions are why the city did not request any repair bids so that a proper cost analysis could be completed before the demolition of this vital parking act.

Why did the city not request any sell bids in order to get the highest possible price for the property?

And why would the city agree to cover the demolition costs and not sell the property as is to save taxpayers over 2.3 million dollars?

The new owner does plan to use the property as a for-profit surface parking lot for up to five years for the contract.

Also, while we are discussing downtown parking decks, in 2020, the city of Greensboro spent more than $78 million, $78 million constructing two parking decks intended to serve two hotels, the AC Marriott and the Weston.

Five or almost six years later, neither hotel actually exists.

One started as 20 levels, it's down to six and has been stagnant for a few years.

The other one technically broke ground, but there's been no progress.

What measures are in place to hold developers accountable when projects are delayed indefinitely?

But more importantly, it is worth considering how these millions of dollars in public funds over the past five or six years could have been allocated for affordable housing, infrastructure, public safety, and more, and neighborhoods throughout the city of Greensboro.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Mr.

Davis, could you give just a little bit of background on that?

I do know that the uh deck was falling in from the top, is what I've understand that it was starting to deteriorate so badly.

Yeah, we actually we provided counsel back then and the public as well, and we can provide some more tomorrow and to counsel and we'll follow up.

But it it was significant, a significant issue, and the integrity on the inside of the deck, and even when we started the remediation, uh we found that it did the danger was actually even more significant.

So I feel like we we very much avoided what could be what could have been a very serious situation.

Uh and also, you know, when you when you're looking at that, and the speaker alluded to a number of other things, but you know where we landed with this and the return uh that we have expectation for in the coming years uh will be of significant use to the public uh of the city, and so um we appreciate the concern in the comments, but there was a significant uh concern of danger for those that were parking in that day.

And if you could get us information, make sure she gets as well.

That would be great.

Yes, ma'am.

Thank you.

Uh Mr.

Mayor's manager, you could also add that two of the businesses were relocated in downtown, and so there's a there's a lot of follow-up on that that could be corrected.

Um we've been working with Lily and her son to relocate the Dolce Aroma coffee shop for a number of years, and I know that's in motion as well as stitch.

Um, and so there's there's a lot more that yes, sir.

You're you're very right and right, and and I wrote a note down, and actually uh the businesses that had to be relocated actually factored into the timeline of what we were doing, and wanted we wanted to ensure that the city provided whatever assistance we could uh to those businesses that had to be either interrupted or relocated.

All right, thank you.

And uh is Marcus Chambers here.

No, I that's coming up, Mr.

Manager.

I'd also reach out to Mr.

Johnson at the with Oakview Group and the Tanger Center because the Tanger Center actually added handicap parking along the side, so it's even actually closer for folks to ease into from a handicapped parking standpoint.

Thank you.

Your Ms.

Cameron, yes, and then uh after Ms.

Cameron will be Mr.

Brenson, Mr.

Blackman, and Mr.

Hicks.

Good evening.

I'm sorry, stop just a moment.

We got some okay.

Okay, it went.

Was that your that wasn't yours?

Was it my phone in the oh oh oh gotcha gotcha?

Okay, thank you.

Go ahead.

Um, good evening and congrats to the new city council.

My name is Tara Cameron.

My heart is a little heavy speaking to you this evening.

I stood here a few months ago and expressed the horrific acts of TB Hatch.

I warned the previous city council, and on camera, they appeared moved and upset.

Behind the scenes, no one replied to my emails or voicemails, and I got pushed through the cracks.

Meanwhile, I'm still dealing with continued court cases for false charges.

Now here we are months later, and I hate to say I told you so.

I reported hatch.

His bosses, like Sergeant Collis and the Professional Standards Division, were supposed to reach back out within 48 hours.

Instead, I was pushed through the cracks.

Weeks later, I received a letter in the mail that they had found nothing wrong and closed the case.

They never called or even asked my side.

The city then put a lien on my car with outrageous charges at Bobby's friendly towing, not so friendly by the way, and refused me my stuff out of my car.

Um by the way, my car should have never been towed.

They also told me that it um would be about a thousand dollars to get out.

I recently found out that it was $560, but the charges continue to grow.

I was told of different people to reach out to, but again, I slipped through the cracks.

It took me months and money to even retrieve the rest of the items that hadn't been stolen by the people who work there.

Why is the city contracted with crooks?

He reviews my emergency services.

He refused to call his supervisor when asked.

My best friend and I had multiple bruises after he made me lay in the rain on the highway with my posterior out.

The list goes on and on from that horrific night.

Now here we are, another victim.

Where is the justice and why is he still active duty?

Why is Hatch untouchable and protected from doing wrong and breaking laws?

What happens when there's no protection from the ones who are supposed to protect, serve, and provide unbiased judgment?

I urge you not to let this type of behavior continue to go unrecognized.

At this point, we have to stand for change on our own because who else have we to rely on?

The media paints this picture to protect the force and his family.

Who protected me and mine?

He has a proven record of abuse, not just on the fourth, but in his personal life.

Who is protecting them?

He has been known to belittle rookies and bully them into not snitching.

Sadly enough, they go unprotected for fear of isolation and job security.

Officers like Hatch make it hard to trust and believe in a broken system, no matter who is trying to rebuild it.

So I challenge you at minimum to consider these things and take action.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

City Manager.

Or Miss Harrell.

Someone will get back with her.

Yes, we will.

There was a um an IA inquiry, and so she was uh notified about that, but I'll make further contact.

Great.

Thank you.

All right, Mr.

Brenson, and then Mr.

Gene Blackman, and then Mr.

Hicks.

Good evening, Reverend CJ Brunson.

Um lifetime member of the Greensboro community.

Happy to be here with all of you.

I'm simply here tonight.

I don't have any notes, so like most preachers, I won't be before you long.

Um but I'm here tonight to simply support the young people who came out tonight to speak about police accountability.

Many of you already know that for about 90 days we engaged the city council around police and accountability issues here in this city.

Um I argue that had action had been taken place, perhaps we wouldn't be here uh again around another police accountability issue.

Greensboro has a policing problem.

It has had so for 60, 70 years, and here we are still fighting the same issues.

So tonight I want to make sure that these young folks' voices don't go unheard.

I want to ask that uh this council consider beginning to take action, uh, not only around the demands that they have asked, but demands that have been previously made on the council regarding ending regulatory stops, safety frisk, as well as implementing written consent.

And we also hear again that uh another officer is a repeat offender.

What we said happens when you don't reprimand officers the first time.

So I hope that we take these uh these indictments seriously on officers who are abusing power and begin to address them so that we can do a better job of protecting the citizens here in Greensboro.

I want to also thank many of you who have served, but we are really looking forward as well to the new council forming, taking its place in December.

It's my hope that we continue to do this work and that we can advance the cause of police and accountability here in Greensboro.

Thank you for allowing me to share.

Thank you.

Mr.

Hicks, and then we have Khadija Barry, Dennis White, and Tatiana James.

Good evening, Council.

Good to see you all.

Uh I'm also speaking about police accountability.

I think what happened to Mr.

Williams should disturb everyone.

And the police said they saw marijuana.

Um, which is interesting to me, uh, because moments later that turned into a violent encounter between police and another black black resident.

But, you know, here's a problem, and it's a big problem that we can seem to not be able to get our heads around.

Um, the State Bureau of Investigation Investigations has addressed this.

Uh the SBI's own report says that hemp and marijuana are the same species.

They look and smell identical.

In their words, there's no way for an individual to tell the difference by sight and odor alone.

That means when an officer says they saw marijuana, what they actually saw could have been a completely legal cannabis product.

And those products are everywhere, all across Greensboro.

In convenience stores, smoke shops, local markets, you can buy legal cannabis products that look and smell just like marijuana.

And I know, because just yesterday, I bought this product myself from John's Kerbart, which is owned by our future mayor and her husband, Mary Kay Abuserwaiter.

So why is it that something that is legally eligible to be sold is illegal when sitting in a black man's lap?

And if cannabis can make money for you, why should it cause harm for black residents?

And and and cause harm and you know, strip dignity and safety.

So the SBI has warned us about this that police can't tell the difference in the field.

They're the state SBI, their field, their lab cannot tell the difference.

There's a memo, and I'll be happy to send it to all of you.

So we really need to confront this hypocrisy, and until we admit that what's being criminalized is not the product, it's the race of a person.

Until we admit that, we're gonna keep having to come back here.

And I and I have to admit, for me, I'm aesthetic that six of you won't be here next month.

Because then change can actually happen.

Thank you.

Uh Khadija Berry, Dennis White, and Tatiana James.

And then I'll go back and make sure I didn't miss anyone.

Good evening.

I was wondering if Tatiana James could go first, and then I would follow after her.

Sure.

Good evening.

My name is Tatiana James, and I currently serve as a junior criminal justice student attending North Carolina AT State University.

I also serve as the second vice president for the NACP at North Carolina Anti.

I echo my fellow community members in standing before you this evening to discuss an issue that has toppled our community for far too long.

The excessive force exhibited by law enforcement officers.

There's a clear, urgent necessity to revisit police training practices in specific regards to those who use excessive force when handling individuals who resist arrest.

Both federal and state guidelines state that an officer is permitted to use excessive force when dealing with a non-compliant individual.

However, the question comes when is necessary force excessive and quite frankly, cruel and unusual in direct violation of the Eighth Amendment of the United States Constitution.

This argument came into question last Monday night when a man named Nathaniel Williams was subject to this said unnecessary and excessive force as a result of his resistance during an arrest carried out by the Greensboro Police Department.

The questionable use of this force has circulated throughout social media, which has prompted our presence here today.

Greensboro is a college town, and we are currently in a time where it's college students do not feel safe, well protected from those who are quite literally appointed to protect and serve them.

Our demands are simple.

We must clearly outline the use of excessive force in specific regards to those who resist arrest.

I urge this council to commission a review of our current police training curriculum, consult with experts in community policing and behavioral health, and invest in programs that teach officers to prioritize prevention over punishment and safety over excessive force, according to the mission of the United States Department of Justice.

Thank you for commit your commitment to safety and justice for all within the Greensboro, North Carolina.

Thank you.

Dennis Tatiana.

Good evening, everyone.

My name is Khadija Berry.

I am a third year political science student attending the illustrious North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University.

I stand here.

I give you right.

I stand here with the same clarity, urgency, and convention as my classmates regarding the incident that took place on November the 3rd, involving the Greensboro Police Department and Nathaniel Wilness.

Justice delayed is justice denied.

Our call today is direct.

Release the body cam footage in full, conduct a transparent investigation, and hold officers responsible for use of excessive force and full accountability.

And I want this to be clear.

Urgency, the urgency here is not just about the incident, it's about a pattern.

A pattern that tells us that what happened at what excuse me.

A pattern that tells us that what happens to Nathaniel is not an exception, but a product of a system that continues to cause harm.

Tatiana James outlined it beautifully the necessary steps to reform training.

So I will end with this.

Training cannot be a talking point.

It must be a commitment, a measurable, enforced, and consistent standard to prevent harm before it happens.

Because accountability after the fact is not enough.

We need prevention, we need protection, we need change that's structural, not symbolic.

So let this moment not be dismissed as another news cycle, another statement, another delay.

We are calling for accountability.

We are calling for a full, comprehensive revisit of police training standards in this city.

We will not allow this moment to be ignored, dismissed, and we will we expect action.

Thank you all.

Thank you.

Dennis, Dennis White, and then is Tatiana here?

George Book.

She's book.

Yeah, I got her ahead, I guess.

Yeah.

Okay, go ahead.

Dennis White, Umoja Church.

Um, in the past, when I've been here, I've engaged this moment from a position of comment, but after witnessing the video of a resident of this city who was already physically restrained by multiple officers, have his head pounded upon repeatedly.

I engaged as counsel and by proxy, the Greensboro Police Department from a position of curiosity.

My curiosity this evening is what gives you the right?

What gives you the right to behave this way?

Is it the training that is either wholly effective or completely missing the mark?

Effective in producing officers whose protocol for interacting with people leaves them predisposed to escalation rather than de-escalation or missing the mark of preparing officers to engage citizens strategically and humanely.

What gives you the right?

Is it the screening and hiring practices of the Greensboro Police Department being inept at identifying unconscious bias or pre-existing prejudice?

What is the source of power?

What is the motivation, the provocation to cheat the trust of the public time and again by taking their presumptions of protection and their tax dollars and paying them back in brutality, unnecessary and over overt use of force, all managed manner of negligent behavior, and unchecked abuse of power.

My observation is that it is a culture of policing that has deep roots in this city's history that gives you the right.

It is the habitual and perpetual failure of this city council and council's past to implement and enforce a police accountability apparatus that gives you the rights.

It is the blind eyes and deaf ears turned to the community's consistent petitions for fruit-producing dialogue and engagement around the issues of policing in this city in the context of a legitimate public safety concern rather than acrimonious and contemptuous complaints that gives you the rights.

And I apologize for the aimless implications in my language because honestly, this city's shortcomings are an insult to our visually and hearing impaired community members who are adept at living with others peaceably.

It is my observation that what gives you the right to continue to fail the public in this regard, among other things, is the continuation of the safety frisk, regulatory stops, and the absence of written consent to search.

Therefore, it is my observation that the most appropriate first step to a culture shift in this city's policing practices is to adopt a written consent policy for searches and regulatory stops for motorists and safety fris and listen to the community when they tell you how they desire to be policed.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Um, and thank you to everyone who spoke.

I just want to make sure we haven't missed someone if they came in.

Robert Laramie and Marcus Chambers.

Are they here?

All right, that concludes our speakers from the floor.

Mary Kay, can I just ask one quick thing?

Um I heard the speakers, but um, can you give me Mr.

City Manager, Miss Turney, the status of the body one camera?

The chief was supposed to be requesting it.

Can you hear me?

Yes, um, yes.

So we do have the petition ready.

The chief has asked that we um forward the petition to the superior court to petition for the release.

Chief Thompson is out of town.

He will not be back until Wednesday.

Wednesday he wants to see in person look over it.

If he approves the petition, we'll move it on to the superior court.

Hopefully, it will be on the docket by next Monday, but that is completely up to the Superior Court calendar um personnel.

If he doesn't approve it, we'll revise it and we'll get it over as quickly as as he can approve it.

So he does in fact want it released.

We're going to do the same thing, madam councilwoman, that we did the last time and ask the judge to allow counsel to view first, likely in a closed session, and then shortly thereafter, within minutes of you all reviewing, it will be released to the public.

Okay, so family involved asked the family.

As far as I know, the family has not.

I have behind me uh our police attorney Joshua Bowers.

I will let him speak to that if if maybe they've come over uh to uh the headquarters.

They have no no one, no attorney and no family member has contacted my office, me to ask if they could go over and see it.

Um attorney Dowers.

Yes, sir, thank you.

That's all right.

Okay, but so their actual attorney has they don't have one.

Um but she's asking for the law.

Right.

Um if Mr.

Williams, who's in it, and his representative, they can go actually see it as a ma'am.

Yes, ma'am.

Yes, they can go.

But they have not asked, right, they have not asked.

Okay, all right.

All right, thank you.

Thank you.

That's that that's just just to confirm that there are two separate paths here.

One is the one that the chief is taking on, which is through the court system and the release and all that good stuff.

But as as as council member hightower just just shared, the second path is that the person who is involved in the incident.

Yes, the very next day.

Yes, can come down to um GPD and file that request, yes, and within short order be able to actually view.

This is totally separate from the court and the release.

They can view that if their face or their voice is in that video.

Correct.

If your face or your voice is in a video, you can always come to the police department alone or with your representative and ask if you can probably go back in one of the conference rooms or wherever they allow viewing and view it.

You cannot record, you cannot, you know, do anything else, but you can just view it.

The other that's called disclosure.

Disclosure.

The other form is called release, where even though he's the chief of police, because there is um a criminal investigation attached, if he wants to release, we still have to get a signed order um signed by the superior court judge, and that is pursuant to uh North Carolina General statutes.

Thank you.

All right, and uh, you know, um Mr.

Blackman, I apologize.

I called you after Miss Tara Cameron, but there was applause going on, so you may not have heard me, so you can come on up.

Are you good?

I just wanted you to know that I did call you earlier.

Okay.

Okay, thank you.

All right, so moving on to the uh consent agenda, and unless anyone else has any comments.

Uh so Mrs.

Hoffman has moved the consent agenda.

Do I hear a second?

Second, seconded by Mrs.

Thurm.

Uh, we can vote on this one.

Please vote.

Yes, Mayor Vaughn.

Well, not Miss Pender.

I think Mayor Vaughn is watching now.

Madam Pro and she is a yes.

Yes.

I just want to wait and see the vote first.

I'm sorry, Mary K.

Madam Pro Mayor Pro Tim.

It's okay.

Sorry, I have to get used to it.

The others.

That passes seven to zero with two absent.

And Ms.

Pender also voted yes.

So Ms.

Hightower.

My apologies.

I know in one of these budget adjustments, there was the price, the cost for purchasing the humble road property that we negotiated with Guilford County behind Brown Recreation Center to continue expanding that.

We already purchased one parcel at 650,000.

This is the second piece behind Brown Center that we had been negotiating with the current owner.

It has no municipal use, but the city and the county are going to share in this expense.

And I believe it's in one of the budget adjustments.

I couldn't find it.

But I wanted to speak to it because it will be a completion of land behind Brown Recreation Center that will help to expand the center, expand trails that are currently behind Brown Recreation Center.

And that took months of negotiation.

But between Mr.

City Manager and a county city manager and legal, we were able to come to, I believe, an agreement which will allow this adjustment to move forward to use ARP money.

Is that correct?

Mr.

City Manager.

Yes, ma'am, you're correct, Councilwoman.

Okay.

And once that is done, how soon will that negotiation be finalized?

We're gonna put uh director flying on the on the clock on this one.

Oh okay, Mr.

Good evening, Mayor Pro Tim and Council.

We're currently uh working through that negotiation uh now that we know that the funds are in place to acquire the property.

Um we are very hopeful that that will be successful, and that in fact that offer to purchase may advance to council for approval as soon as next week.

Um and essentially, as council member hightower mentioned, it's roughly an eight-acre tract that does connect the property that the city acquired last year on Ilm Eugene Street towards Brown Recreation Center.

So uh it's something that we've uh had in the works for quite a while, and we're really eager to bring this forward.

Um, and of course, expansion of parkland um in the southeast area of Greensboro and specifically around Brown Recreation Center has been lifted up in several plans, including the South Greensboro area plan uh that's been worked on.

Okay, thank you for your work on getting this done and working with the county.

Um it was a unique situation that we ran into, um, but I think it shows how the city and the county can work together as well, because it'll be a benefit for all citizens in that area and beyond as well.

So thank you for doing good work.

Thank you.

And as you all know from uh the last meeting, uh a future aspect of this will be developing a master plan uh for the whole parkland parcel there uh so we can plan for the future.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

Thank you.

Thank you, and thank you for the additional information.

That's very helpful.

Um let's see, moving on.

There are no items for consideration on our public hearing agenda, so we will move on to the general business agenda, and um we have already continued item I one, which is the minimum housing standards commission.

So item I two resolution approving a contract and the amount of two million two hundred and nine thousand eight hundred and thirty-three dollars and sixty cents with Blue Arbor Incorporated to provide temporary labor services.

Moving second that is moved by Mrs.

Hightower, seconded by Mr.

Holston.

Uh we shall do a vote vote, please.

Council, please vote, Ms.

Pender.

Yes, thank you.

And that carries seven to zero.

Thank you all very much.

That is the end of our agenda for this evening.

So I don't know if anyone has any.

I will just ask if anyone has any boards and commission appointments or if you are no.

Anyone?

No.

All right, I I do.

Okay, Ms.

Pender.

Sorry.

I have Jeremy Simpson for the Board of Adjustments.

Okay.

And I'm sorry, what was the name?

It was a little hard to hear.

Jeremy Simpson.

Jeremy Simpson, do I hear a second?

Second.

All in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

All right.

That is to be appointed to the Board of Adjustment.

Moving on to council comments.

I'll start at the very end, Mrs.

Hightower.

Thank you, Ma'am Mayor Pro Tim.

Congratulations on being our new mayor.

Thank you.

And to all council members who were re-elected and to the upcoming new council members.

I wanted to, and I'll save my comments as far as our next to last meeting, I believe.

But it has been an honor to serve for 12 years to have helped move this district forward, and I look forward to continuing to do that.

So while I may not be in this seat, I am not out of this community.

And so I will not be going anywhere at all.

I will continue to be a community advocate.

I've been for 30 years in this community to help move us forward and to continue working on the foundation that we establish for work that needs to happen in this community.

Housing and other areas, economic development.

And looking forward to our transit, how we're going to do the next crosstown route, micro transit, which will be able to move people to jobs in the outer perimeter of the city.

So I'm looking forward to continuing that work as well.

One thing I would like to, and I think you explored, um, I do want to ask about the status of the lights with the arrows that flash.

We talked about those that flash at random on MetaView.

And these are processes that are long in making, but we're almost there.

So it will probably happen in the next couple weeks, 30 days, and talking to the state DOT as well.

So I wanted us to kind of make sure that stays in the forefront of getting that done.

It is long time request.

Um, but again, the partnership and the relationship with the state DOT is going to allow that to be completed.

So if you can make sure you follow up on the status of that, if you will.

That was the two lights, as well as the light um request at Glendale and Oliver Drive.

That's one that's been in the request as well.

Um I also would like to just make sure we continue to push the effort with the sidewalk project uh on Vandalia.

It's currently being held up by federal government because waiting on the COVID design approval.

So I would like for you to follow up on that as well.

Because that has been in the making for quite a while.

Um we didn't do it, we didn't delay it, but we have to adhere to the rules.

So when the rules change, we have to abide by those rules to make sure it gets done.

So I would appreciate some follow-up on that.

Um, because the community has been waiting for a while.

I don't disagree.

Um, but again, some things are just out of your control, um, no matter what.

Um, but I think we can we found a creative way to do some of this, and so hopefully we'll be able to follow through on that as well.

Okay.

And we haven't really had anything going on lately.

If you have, I haven't been.

Um, because it's been quite a busy time.

Um, but I do thank staff for all the hard work you do and have done to help make the city great, and it is a great city.

Nobody's perfect, nothing is perfect, only Jesus was perfect, and so um we will continue to make mistakes sometimes, but I know that your efforts to strive to do better.

They are they're honest, they're sincere, and they're genuine.

And so I have enjoyed the journey with you and look forward to more.

So thank you.

Thank you.

Yes, ma'am.

All right, Mr.

Holston.

Thank you, Madam Mayor Pro Tim.

A couple of things, you know, about the election.

Um, we were talking about the voting percentages from the primary, which were well, I think 10 and a half percent.

Things got a little bit better for the for the general, and that's good.

It's just that uh I believe still about uh 20 percent of our eligible voters chose for the 100 percent, and we need to continue to work ways to ensure that as many folks as is possible, 50, 60, 70 percent show up uh to our elections.

I want to say congratulations to uh those of us who are returning and also blessings for those of for those of us who are departing.

I want to say I believe I see four of the future council members in the in the room council woman elect um April Parker, councilwoman elect CC Crawford, councilwoman elect Crystal Black, and I thought I saw councilman elect Irving Alling in.

Is he is he not here?

Okay, he he was here earlier.

Uh looking forward to to working with you all.

Um couple of things.

There have been some activities.

The NCCJ citation award dinner was excellent just this past week.

I know Dudley High School celebrated his Dudley Hall of Fame Hall of Distinction.

Uh recently, uh the 13th enshrinement was a wonderful event.

Um I'll say that uh November is Movember for men's health issues, uh encouraging screenings for men, promoting well-being, things like prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health, skin hand skin cancer, and heart health.

Gentlemen, I you know, we we do this every year.

We gotta take care of ourselves, and a lot of times we're stubborn, we're hard-headed.

We already know the you know that we don't want to, we don't need, but we need to go ahead and get those screenings to get those exams so we can be around to to be with and to love and uh with our family members.

That's very important.

Uh Mayor Electweather, congratulations also.

Looking forward to your leadership.

And just on the last two things, those first resolutions from uh earlier today for Yvonne Johnson.

And you know, the the the interesting thing about the Yvonne Johnson um legacy is that we all have a story we can't tell, right?

We have at least one story we can't tell.

And if you know, you know.

Um, but that's what made Yvonne so special that she had those real down-to-earth uh just regular conversations with each and every one of us, and each of them was very unique, and that's what makes her so special, and why it's such an honor to um to name the Barbara Park Event Center after her, and then last but not least, uh the Carolina Cowboys.

Uh if you haven't seen professional bull riding, please do.

It's the most exciting eight seconds in the uh in in the arena.

Uh go out and have a look at it.

They'll be back in September of 26 for the cowboy days, and looking forward to that.

But in between, watch out for that buckle, and by the way, it is very heavy.

Very heavy.

Thank you, Madam Mayor Portin.

Oh, and one more thing.

I'm sorry.

Sorry about that.

It was a heavy pause, wasn't it?

You know, thanks thanks to the speakers that came out this evening, especially those speaking on the issue of police accountability and transparency.

Those things are very important and things that uh we have and will continue to look into and to address, and as items come up uh with transparency and with honesty, you know, always thinking of what Yvonne Johnson would do.

What what would Yvonne do?

Um, and just making sure that we are listening, and you make sure that we are listening and understanding, and we may not always agree, but we need to be directionally in the same place because we all want the very best community for our community, and um and I'm here for look forward to working with you.

Thank you, Zach.

All right, Mr.

Methaney.

Second.

Thank you, Madam Mayor Pro Tim and future mayor, congratulations and congratulations to all the ones that uh won.

Um Ms.

Parker, good luck, congratulations.

I sent you an email.

I hope you got it.

Um quite frankly, uh I love this city and I love serving.

But I love my kids too, so I'm not too uh upset, Mr.

Hicks.

I'm sorry I'm not gonna be here for you to pick on, but I'll know you'll find other ways.

Uh but it's seriously, this is a this is a good job.

It's a good thing to put your heart into, and so uh I know y'all have uh through the community in many different ways, and I know you'll do it even better when you're sitting up here.

Um to Miss Johnson to Yvonne.

Go go ahead, Sherry.

You good.

Uh not much phases me.

Um, you know, to honor Yvonne is is very special to me because when I won when I first was elected in 2007, literally sh she was my Greensboro mama and um just a very special person, and so I was very happy to participate in that.

Um, and I appreciate our staff, and I'll say more about that on a later date.

Thank you all very much.

All right, Mrs.

Hoffman.

Thank you.

Uh just one more note about Yvonne.

Um, as I said, we're you know, we're better that she walked among us in this city.

She was a woman for all seasons, and she had a wicked sense of humor.

And I I think that was demonstrated when Lisa said today she didn't want a street named after her because she didn't want anybody driving on her.

So yeah, that was that was so typical of the of the really quite funny things that she would say from time to time.

But um congratulations to um uh all of the um candidates who were elected by the city of citizens of Greensboro last week.

Um running a campaign is is it's hard.

It's it's uh it's it's just uh you you grind it out for uh uh for a number of uh of months.

So um it's it's a privilege and an honor and a responsibility to serve the city uh as a member of council.

So um uh again I I thank all of those candidates who put themselves out there last week.

Um just one note.

I'd I'd like to uh um recommend to our citizens here in the chamber but throughout the city tonight.

There's there's an absolutely extraordinary exhibition at the Weatherspoon Art Museum, uh, and it's uh runs through the end of November.

Um it's entitled uh Fighters for Freedom, and the artist is William Johnson.

He grew up in Florence, South Carolina, was born in 1901.

Um he went to um graduated from high school, went to New York, studied for a a few years, and then went and and lived in Europe uh in the 30s.

Uh and he was quite a uh quite a significant abstract painter, and he um but he came back to uh New York uh just uh at the beginning of World War II.

He thought it would be safer for him, and also uh he had he married um a woman who was Danish, and so they came back and lived to live in New York City.

And in the early 40s, he totally changed his painting.

Uh, and this is when he um over three three to four years, he did this Fighters for Freedom.

Uh and what it it's a tribute really to um African American activist and scientist and teachers and performers, and uh when you his paintings are very detailed, they're very colorful.

Um, and uh it's a totally different style of painting from what he had done earlier in his life, but um it it's it's it's done in an interactive way.

It really makes you think a lot uh about the meaning of that time and and uh and and today and uh it's quite historical and um really urge um everyone who might have an opportunity to do that.

There is uh there's no cost to going to the weather spoon, it's free and open to our public throughout the city.

So I highly recommend it or recommend seeing this exhibition.

It's it's certainly worth an hour plus of your time.

So thanks so much.

Thank you, and thank you for sharing that with us.

I'm gonna ask for Miss Pender next.

Would you like to say a few words?

Yes.

Um can you hear me?

Yes.

All right, perfect.

Um I would like to just congratulate everyone that was newly elected to council.

Um I wish you much success.

Um also just a couple of um updates that I would like to just bring to everyone's attention is I know recently there has been a lot going back and forth around those experiencing food insecurity or food hardships, and just want to make sure people are aware of the Guilford County Food Finder app.

So you're able to download that app.

And if you don't have ability to download the app, you can definitely go on to the website, which is the Guilford County Foodfinder.org where you're able to find feeding locations, pantries, and backpack programs for those individuals that may be experiencing food insecurity of hardship.

Also want to thank the speakers that came this evening and just with their passion and just being courageous to talk about some of the issues that are most pressing here in our city and continue to look at ways in which we can all continue to work together as we address some of these challenges that we have in the city.

Also, with that, um, last week had an opportunity to attend the Paint the Greensboro Purple, um, which was presented by Portia Shipman and Stacey King, was all which was focused around domestic violence and the resources that are available in our community to be able to create the awareness, but also link people to read sources if they happen to be addressing if they happen to be dealing with the domestic violence.

And then also just the last thing is happen to attend the United Way Beyond Poverty, GSO symposium that they had last week.

And one of the things as we continue to look at how do we have a healthy and equitable community.

One of the things that was most alarming from that what I heard was that one in five individuals in Guilford County either read over third grade level or have a reading comprehension, and that directly impacts everyone's overall quality of life.

And so if we're looking at making sure that all of our citizens, all of our residents here in the city can have a healthy and equitable community, we need to really look at what are those things that get in the way that prevent people from being able to have or experience that economic uh prosperity that some seem to be able to benefit from in the city and some do not.

And so let's definitely look at how we can all collectively come together and continue to work on that.

Um I'm not sure if Andrea's gonna um speak about this, but we do have the white flag that's open this evening due to the weather.

So again, there's shelter for those individuals due to the weather that those resources all of it are available that are provided by the city.

Thank you.

Thank you, and Mrs.

Thurm.

Yes, I was gonna measure mention the white flag um for tonight, but thank you, Jamila, for bringing that up.

I also wanted to mention and thank Kevin Gray, who has served for more than a year now as the interim director of Greensboro Downtown Parks Incorporated, and done an amazing job in that role and really appreciate his efforts.

We're very excited that there will be a new uh executive director for GDPI, effective December 1st, Jack Garvey.

Um he is a boomerang.

He was raised in Greensboro and left for a number of years and is coming back, and we're very excited to have him as the new director of the downtown parks.

So please, for those that uh would like to watch for him in the parks, uh say hello, welcome him to the parks, and I think we'll he'll be a real asset for the park.

So I want to thank him for that.

Um thank you to everyone that came out to vote.

22, I think roughly 22 percent, 24.

It was over 20 percent of registers voter registered voters came out to vote.

Um that's certainly been a high since I have been on council, um, and I'm the highest in a number of years.

So I'm glad to see that turnout.

Um glad to see people getting involved and active in our community and passionate about coming out to vote.

So thank you for doing that.

Um, and I think that's it for tonight.

Thank you.

Great, thank you.

And I was gonna also um talk about the white flag, you know, 7 p.m.

to 7 a.m.

And uh thank you, Ms.

Pender at First Baptist Church 1000 was friendly.

Want to make sure that gets out there as much as possible.

Um we kicked off the safe streets initiative today, and it goes through next Sunday with the Rite of Remembrance where we honor those who have been involved and have lost their lives in bicycle fatalities.

Um we do have one good thing.

This past year we had no bicycle fatalities, so that is absolutely something to cheer about.

We've had way too many.

We did unfortunately have a lot of traffic fatalities, so we were working on that with Vision Zero.

Um wanted to mention that I was able to attend the North Carolina AT State University Farm to Table Dinner on Friday, October 24th.

It was recognizing the anniversary of the Marillo Act, and that is uh the the act that established the agricultural part of the North Carolina AT State University.

And I know that uh city attorney Laura Cubage was there.

There may have been more staff there.

I can't quite recall, but it was uh a fascinating time.

Congresswoman Alma Adams spoke, and it was something to sincerely celebrate because without that act, there would be no North Carolina ANT State University.

So it is something to be remembered, honored, and emulated and certainly honored as best we can.

Rosa Falk, who was uh in public safety person now, she retired after I believe over 50 years of service to our city.

Is that correct, Mr.

City Manager?

I think it was I think it's 45 years.

45 years.

She was very close to the 50 mark, but someone who gives that much of herself to our city.

And are you going to speak to the award she received, which I thought was?

I will let you do that in a moment when it's when I come ask you.

Uh beyond that, I know several of us were at the YMCA Bank at the four seasons at the Sheraton, and that was certainly uh something to be thankful for.

Congratulations to everyone who won their races and to all of the new people coming in.

Uh, that that's great.

We're all trying to get one on one with you to kind of bring you up to speed and tell you uh, you know, what we want, and also I want to hear what you want to see done in the next several years.

So we're trying to schedule all of those, and I know that the city manager is going to do uh a session with everyone as well.

So um basically that's all I have.

So, Mr.

City Manager, would you like to talk about Ms.

Falk and then any other thing that you have?

No, thank you very much.

It was so heartwarming to see our Secretary of Crime Control and Public Safety travel all the way to Green to Greensboro to provide uh Miss Falk.

She has been a staple in the police department for 45 years, and to have the secretary come in and present her with the order of the long leaf pine was a tremendous uh honor to watch and see in the people that came out.

Um other than that, we want to thank you all.

Uh, I know we will have some time to spend, but thank you all for the kind words.

I do want to take a moment to to thank the staff you know for the work that they do that is uh truly work around the clock to make sure uh that things are done that need to be done for this community, uh, and they do it without a thing uh without even asking for a thank you.

A few weeks ago we did have an opportunity to have our annual fall festival, and I want to give a shout out to uh the PNC team, Jamiah Waterman Love Jones, and really uh Maria Hicks View uh is able to bring folks together.

Uh it uh it just means so much for me as a city manager to be able to have all of the staff in one space, and there was no division of of departments.

Everybody was able to enjoy themselves, and so thank you all for for what you do, and thank you for allowing us that space.

Thank you, Miss City Attorney.

Nothing major for the city from the city attorney's office, just um join in with the current council to say thank you for those that have served.

At least I've got to share, I think the last seven months with you all, and I've been very appreciative.

And uh congratulations to the new council people elect.

Looking forward to serving with them as well.

Great, thank you.

And I do want to say just at the very end, I'm gonna reserve my comments to my council members who will be leaving till December 1 because it's gonna be pretty emotional for me.

So thank you all.

Okay, so any if nothing else, I would always Mr.

Methana, the most motion to adjourn, seconded by Mr.

Holston, and I think we all agree, so I will say that's unanimous.

Thank you all very much.

Good meeting.